Do Low-Calorie Diets Reduce Risk of Age Related Disease?

Recent studies have found that decreasing the number of calories one person eats per day may have immense health benefits. Some have prevented the onset of age-related inflammation and others have exhibited reduced risks of age-related illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, cancer, and Parkinson’s. Below are more details about the benefits and how calorie restriction diets affect these diseases.

Do Low-Calorie Diets Reduce Risk of Age Related Disease?

Advantages of Restricting Calorie Intake

A new study has revealed that reducing one’s intake of calories by 15% over a period of two years generated positive results in older adults. These are:

How Low-Calorie Diets Affect Age-Related Illnesses

The research that was the first to determine the effects of calorie restriction on adults who have average weight/body mass is the Comprehensive Assessment of Long-Term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy or CALERIE. It’s worth noting that on the 2nd stage of the study, results were taken from 53 non-obese and healthy adults.

These mentioned participants decreased their intake of calorie by 15% over a period of two years and their metabolism and oxidative stress levels statistics were taken. The said participants lost around 19 pounds during the two years even if losing weight was not the aim of the research.

There were no negative effects like low iron levels or any other kind of nutritional deficiencies discovered when the study ended. The results were actually good because their mood improved as well as their general quality of life.

Calorie Restrictions May Slow Down Aging Process By Reducing Inflammation of Brain Cells

Another research published in Frontiers has discovered that calorie restrictions have helped in slowing down aging by reducing inflammation in the brain cells of mice. It also revealed that exercise was not as effective when it comes to averting age-related changes in the brain. They also determined that high or low-fat diet combined with exercise and food restriction affected microglia throughout aging in mice.

Microglia are a particular kind of cells in the brain and spinal cord that functions as immune cells and defends the central nervous system. Interruptions of these cells brought about by diseases have been associated with age-related illnesses like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

These also have an effect on inflammation in the hypothalamus. That’s the part of the brain where Alzheimer’s has been thought to begin which also, in the beginning, affects memory. According to the lead author of the research, aging-induced inflammatory awakening of microglia can only be averted when mice were eating low-fat diet combined with less calorie intake.

Decreasing your calorie intake by 15% may be a good recourse to prevent Alzheimer’s but before you try any diet restrictions, consult your doctor first.